Method of orienting oil wells and device therefor



E. J. GRANT April 17, 1934.

METHOD OF ORIENTING OIL WELLS AND DEVICE THEREFOR Filed April 4. 1931 Patented Apr. 17, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE METHOD OF ORIENTING OIL WELLS AND DEVICE THEREFOR 10 Claims.

This invention relates to a new and improved method of orienting well holes, borings or the like, to determine the extent of deviation of a well hole from the vertical and the direction of such deviation.

The invention also relates to an improved form of apparatus by means of which the method of this invention may be placed in operation.

It is well known that when an oil well is being drilled or bored, it is desired that such well hole be vertical. It is also well known that because of the inclination of structures and strata encountered by the drilling tool, the majority of well holes drilled deviate materially from the 16 vertical.

It is therefore necessary to ascertain the precise angle of deviation as well as the direction of deviation of a well hole before the total depth is definitely known and before the cores brought 20 up can be interpreted. Workers in the prior art have devised a number of methods and devices for ascertaining the deviation from the vertical as well as the direction of such deviation but the prior devices are either cumbersome or the methods employed for obtaining a record of such deviation from the vertical have been unsatisfactory. Attempts have been made, for example, to determine the deviation from the vertical by the .action of hydrofluoric acid on glass containers,

this being the well known acid bottle test. A

considerable amount of time is consumed, however, in taking the test and the line obtained where the acid level etches the glass is indistinct, irregular, rough, and therefore capable of only giving approximate readings.

This invention relates to a method by means of which a clear cut and accurate record of inclination may be obtained. It further relates to a method in which two immiscible fluids of different specific gravities or densities are employed, the inclination being recorded by the boundary between such difierent fluids.

The invention also relates to an apparatus by means of which the method of this invention may be carried out quickly and accurately, the apparatus being of novel construction and of positive action.

An object of this invention is to disclose and provide a method of recording the inclination of well holes by means of two immiscible fluids of differing specific gravities.

Another object of this invention is to disclose and provide a method of recording the inclination of well holes by means of a record-making fluid and a non-recording fluid, the two fluids being of different specific gravities and im-- miscible, by varying the volume of one of said fluids in a container positioned within a well hole, between predetermined limits, so as to form a record of the boundary between said fluids when such volume is at one of said predetermined limits.

Another object of this invention is to disclose and provide a method whereby clear cut recordings showing the deviation from the vertical, may 05 be obtained.

A still further object is to disclose and provide a method of recording the inclination of well holes which method permits the use of mercury.

An object of this invention is to disclose and provide a device for obtaining records showing the deviation of well holes from the vertical in a simple, effective and accurate manner.

A still further object is to disclose and provide a device for orienting well holes by means of which a permanent record showing the direction of deviation is obtained.

A still further object of this invention is to disclose and provide a device in which a record of the inclination of a well hole deviation may be obtained by means of fluid media'and in which such fluid media actuate means for recording the direction of deviation.

These and other objects, uses and advantages of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from a contemplation of the hereinafter described invention.

In describing the invention, reference will be had to the appended drawing, in which Fig. 1 diagrammatically illustrates one method and arrangement of elements by means of which the method may be put into operation.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged longitudinal section of one form of device embraced by this invention.

Fig. 3 is a still further enlargement of the upper end of the device shown in Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged longitudinal section of a portion of the device.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged transverse section taken along the plane 5--5 indicated in Fig. 2.

As has been stated hereinbefore, attempts have been made to produce records showing the deviation from the vertical by means of liquid media but such records have been unsatisfactory primarily because liquids would either splash or 05 creep on the surfaces of the recording chamber or in other ways produce a very rough, jagged boundary instead of a clear cut straight boundary.

In accordance with this invention, however, two fluids of differing specific gravites are em- 110 ployed, such fluids being immiscible with each other, one of said fluids being preferably. recordmaking in character whereas the other is nonrecording. The record-making fluid may be a solution adapted to leave a deposit on the walls of the recording chamber or such record-making fluid may contain a dye adapted to leave a suitable mark on the surfaces of the record-making chamber. Or the recording fluid may chemically react with. the recording surface so as to either leave a deposit thereon or etch or react therewith. The boundary produced, however, and the boundary from which the record is made, is the boundary between the two liquids, namely, the boundary between the record-making liquid and the non-recording liquid. It has been discovered that boundaries between two such liquids are clear cut and straight and for this reason give rise to records which are readily interpreted.

As shown in Fig. 2, the device may comprise a non-magnetic tubular housing divided into a plurality of chambers by means of transverse partitions or plugs 11, 12 and 13. The chamber 14 is a reservoir for one of the fluids. The chamber 15 is the recording chamber. The partitions 11, 12 and 13 may be in the form of pistons of any suitable material held between washers 16 pressed together by means of nuts 1'7 threadedly connected to a tubular exteriorly threaded axle member 18.

An aperture 19 may extend radially from the tubular member 13 immediately beneath the partition 12, said aperture 19 being in alignment with a partition in a bushing 20 positioned between one of the washers l6 anda nut 17 carried by the member 18. A screen 21 may also be carried between the bushing 20 and the nut'l'l permitting air or gas to pass through the screen 21 into the aperture 19 and into the hollow tubing 18 but preventing liquid from passing through such aperture 19.

The upper partition 11 may be provided with an aperture containing a conduit member 22 which may be sealed in any suitable manner as, for example, by means of the stopper 23. Such partition 11 may also be provided with any suitable form of valve mechanism of an adjustable charactar. For example, the partition 11 may be provided with a tubular member 24 having a spider therein, said spider being internally threaded so as to receive therein a screw 25 provided with an actuating knob 26. The lower end of the screw 25 may be provided with a round knob 27. The lower end of the tubular member 24 may be provided with a sheet of rubber 28 stretched across and fastened to such lower end. This sheet of rubber 28 may have a very minute pin break 29 therein. It will be evident that by turning the screw 25, the knob 2'? may be caused to distend the rubber sheet 28, thus causing the pin hole 29 to enlarge. ment, permitting the escape or entry of air at any desired rate, is thus provided.

Conduit means are provided between the chambers 14 and 15 so as to permit the fluid from chamber 14 to flow into the chamber 15. For example, a tube 30 may be held by the partition 12 and extend from the bottom of the reservoir chamber 14 to near the bottom of the recording chamber 15.

It is to be. understood that the housing 10 may be either of a transparent non-magnetic material such as glass or it may be composed of A very delicate adjustin the recording chamber 15 may be impressed directly on the walls of the housing 10 (if it is made of glass for example) or if desired a cylindrical member 31 may be positioned within the chamber 15, such member 31 being adapted to receive a record indicating the inclination of the instrument and of the well hole in which such instrument is employed.

Below the partition 13 a collection chamber 33 is preferably slidably positioned, said collection chamber 33 resting upon a base 34 yieldingly supported above a bottom plug 35 internally threaded into the housing 10. For example, the plate member 34 may be provided with a plurality of legs 36 terminating in tubular portions 3'? adapted to receive springs 38 supported upon the plug 35.

The recording chamber 15 may be provided with fluid discharge means such as the siphon 40 extending through the partition 13 into the collectionchamber or container 33.

The plug 35 may have a tubular member 41 connectd thereto and slidably mounted within the upper end of such plug 41 may be a member 42 adapted to pivotally support a compass 43. Internally threaded into the tubular member 41 may be an adjustable plug 44 and between the plug 44 and the slidable member 42 a spring 45 may be positioned. Adjustment of the plug member 44 will therefore provide a means for adjusting the height of the member 42 above the tubular member 41 and the distance between the compass 43 and the plate 34 on which the container 33 is carried. The plate 34 may be. provided on its under side with a pad 46 of yielding material such as, for example, cotton, felt or the like. Such pad 46 may consist of wax or other deformable material adapted to take an impression of the compass 43 when brought in contact therewith.

As has been stated hereinbefore, two fluids of differing specific gravity are employed in the de-.

vice described. For example, a fluid of high specific gravity such as mercury, is charged into the reservoir 14 through the filling aperture or conduit 22. The recording chamber 15 may be partly filled with a similar fluidof high specific gravity such as mercury up to the level indicated at 50 and a relatively smaller quantity of another fluid placed in said recording chamber 15 up to a level indicated at 51.

The liquid 51 may be a record-making liquid, mercury being the non-recording liquid. The line of demarcation established by the recordmaking liquid occurs at the level 50 where the two liquids come in contact.

- In actual use, a device such as described hereinabove is fllled with two immiscible liquids of differing specific gravities such as, for example, a water solution and suspension of starch or flour and mercury, in the manner described hereinabove and the valve 26 then regulated so as to permit air to enter the reservoir 14 at a required rate through the aperture 29. The device is then sent down a well hole such as is shown in Fig. 1,

for example, wherein 1 is a casing, 2 a string of tubing or drill pipe and 3 is the testing device. Within the last string of tubing or drill pipe small shock absorbing springs 4 may be positioned adapted to yieldingly receive the testing device 3. When thus retained near the bottom of the hole, the device will operate as follows: the mercury from the reservoir 14 will slowly pass through the conduit 30 into the recording chamber 15, raising the level thereinand moving the recording liquid 51 upwardly until the level of the siphon 40 is reached. The siphon 40 is preferably slightly larger in capacity or diameter than the conduit so that the major portion of the mercury in the bottom of the recording chamber 15 is quickly siphoned oil into the container 33. When the meniscus indicated by the line 50 falls below the level of the inlet 49 of the siphon and starts to remove the recording liquid 51, the meniscus 50 remains stationary for the period of time required for the recording liquid 51 to be removed by the siphon 40. a

As soon as the sealhas been broken by the admission of air into the siphon 40, the mercury level or meniscus 50 begins to rise again because of the continual flow of mercury from the reservoir 14. During such brief instant that the recording liquid 51 was being siphoned out, 8. record consisting of the line or boundary between the record-making liquid 51 and the mercury was made as indicated by the dotted line 48 (in an assumed inclined position) and this record immediately thereafter covered by the rising level of the mercury supplied from the reservoir 14. The record 48 is thus protected by the mercury which is contained in the reservoir 14 in quantity suflicient to cover the record 48 only to a predetermined point and insuflicient to cause the siphon 40 to again decant the liquid into the container 33. The rise and fall of the meniscus 50 is therefore controlled between predetermined limits, such limits being the top of the siphon 40 and the inlet 49 of the siphon 40. The recordmaking liquid 51 will, leave a record not only at the top of the recording chamber 15 but will leave a clear and accurate record 48 at the completion of its desired movement.

It will be seen, therefore, that the record is formed by the line of demarcation between two immiscible liquids. Accidental jarring of the device during testing when of but slight character does not influence the accuracy of the record appreciably as the line of demarcation is a head of liquid 51 thereabove and motion to the meniscus 50 is not imparted by a slight vibration.

Furthermore, after the record 48 has been made and the device is ready for withdrawal from the well, the mercury covers the record and preserves it against distortion, blurring or other disfigurement.

As has been stated hereinabove, the container 33 is slidably mounted in the housing 10 and the weight of the mercury siphoned out of the recording chamber 15 into the container 33 causes the container 33 to slowly fill, the springs 38 gradually yielding under the added weight until the pad 46 carried by the bottom plate 34 contacts with the compass 43 and either retains it in the position which it has assumed during the period of rest at the bottom of the well hole or not only clamps it to that position but in addition takes an impression of the compass. As the member 42 is also yieldably supported upon the spring 45, the compass is uninjured by the application of such pressure.

In the example given hereinabove, reference has been made to two fluids, namely, mercury and a solution or suspension of flour or starch in a liquid of lighter specific gravity. It has been found that the suspension or solution of flour or starch in carbon tetrachloride or allied material leaves a very distinct clear cut marking on the interior walls of glass tubes and therefore these two materials are particularly adapted for use where the housing 10 is of glass.

However, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of these twofluids. It is kell known, for example. that carbon tetrachloride has a specific gravity of about 1.5 whereas glycerine has a specific gravity of 1.26 and naphtha a specific gravity of about 0.83. These and numerous other solutions and suspensions or the like may be employed, it being necessary, however, that the two liquids employed in the device be of different specific gravities and be immiscible. Furthermore, only one of the liquids is to be of record-making character, the other liquid used in conjunction therewith being of non-recording character. Either heavier or the lighter of the two liquids employed may be record-making but preferably the lighter of the two liquids should exhibit record-making properties.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate the advantages of the invention disclosed hereinabove and will readily conceive of numerous changes and modifications which could be made therein. The invention is not limited to the precise method of operation nor structure defined but instead embraces all such changes and modifications as come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a method of recording the inclination of well holes, the steps of positioning a recordmaking fluid and a non-recording fluid of specific gravity appreciably different from that of the record-making fluid in a recording chamber in a well hole, said record-making fluid and nonrecording fluid being immiscible, and varying the volume of one of said fluids between predetermined limits to form a record of the boundary between said fluids when said volume is at one of said predetermined limits.

2. A method of recording the inclination of well holes comprising positioning a record-making fluid in contact with a non-recording immiscible fluid of specific gravity higher than said record-making fluid, and reducing the amount of non-recording fluid to a predetermined minimum to form a record of the boundary between said fluids when said non-recording fluid is present in such predetermined minimum amount.

3. A method of recording the inclination of well holes comprising positioning a record-making fluid in contact with a non-recording immiscible fluid of specific gravity higher than said record-making fluid, reducing the amount of non-recording fluid to a predetermined minimum to form a record of the boundary between said fluids when said non-recording fluid is present in such predetermined minimum amount, and then increasing the amount of said non-recording fluid to cover the record thus made.

4. In a method of recording the inclination of well holes, the steps of positioning a recordmaking fluid of relatively low specific gravity in contact with a quantity of mercury in a container provided with wall surfaces adapted to react to the action of said record-making fluid, said record-making fluid and mercury being immiscible and non-reactive, reducing the amount of mercury to a predetermined minimum to form a record of the boundary between said fluid and mercury when said mercury is present in such predetermined minimum amount, and then increasing the amount of mercury to cover the record thus produced.

5. In a method of recording the inclination of well holes, the steps of forming a layer of record-making fluid of relatively low specific gravity over and incontact with a body of mercury, withdrawing a portion of said mercury to reduce the quantity thereof to a predetermined minimum to form a record of the boundary between said fluid and mercury when said mercury is present in such predetermined amount, and employing the mercury thus withdrawn to separately actuate a directional recording device.

6. In a method of recording the inclination of well holes, the steps of forming a layer of recordmaking fluid of relatively low specific gravity over and in contact with a body of mercury, said record-making fluid and mercury being immiscible and non-reactive, slowly increasing the quantity of mercury in said body, then withdrawing a portion of said mercury to reduce the quan-- tity thereof to a predetermined minimum to form a record of the boundary between the fluid and said mercury when said mercury is present in such predetermined minimum amount, and flnally increasing the amount of mercury in said bodyto cover the record thus made.

'7. In a method of recording the inclination of well holes, the steps 01' forming a layer of recordmaking fluid of relatively low specific gravity over and in contact with a body of mercury, said record-making fluid and mercury being immiscible and non-reactive, slowly increasing the quantity of mercury in said body, then withdrawing a portion of said mercury to reduce the quantity thereof to a predetermined minimum to form a record of the boundary between the fluid and said mercury when said mercury is present in such predetermined minimum amount, increasing the amount of mercury in said body to cover the record thus made, and employing the mercury thus withdrawn to separately-form a record of the direction of inclination.

8. A well hole orienting device comprising a housing of non-magnetic material, a reservoir within said housing, a recording chamber in said housing, conduit means communicating said reservoir and recording chamber, a slidable collection chamber within said housing, siphon 'discharge means positioned in said recording chamber, said discharge means communicating with said collection chamber, a compass pivotally mounted in said housing, and means actuated by movement of said collection chamber for clamping said compass in position.

9. A well hole orienting device comprising a housing of non-magnetic material, a reservoir for liquid within said housing, a recording chamber in said housing, conduit means communicating said reservoir and recording chamber, a slidable container movable by the weight of liquid from said reservoir yieldingly mounted in said housing, siphon discharge means positioned in said recording chamber, said discharge means communicating with said container, a compass pivotally mounted in said housing, and means actuated by movement of said container and liquid discharged thereinto for clamping said compass in position.

10. A well hole orienting device comprising a housing of non-magnetic material, a reservoir within said housing, a recording chamber in said housing, conduit means communicating said reservoir and recording chamber, a movable container yieldably mounted in said housing, siphon discharge means positioned in said recording chamber, said discharge'means communicating with said container, a pivotally mounted compass beneath said container, and means operated by motion of said container for clamping the compass in position.

, EDWIN J. GRANT. 

